Nine Spaniards have made the shortlist, making Spain the most well-represented country, with France and Brazil close behind on seven nominations each.
England, who dominated the inaugural shortlist back in 2005 with 10 nominations, have just one representative this year in Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, who has made the list for the first time.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon are also included, making them the only two players to make every shortlist since the first World XI in 2005.
About 25,000 professional footballers took part in the poll, which this year covers performances by players from August to June, aligned with the majority of club competitions. Previous editions covered player performances in a calendar year.
The final World XI will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Oct. 23.
Full shortlist (home country/club in 2016-17):
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), David de Gea (Spain/Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Germany/Bayern Munich), Jan Oblak (Slovenia/Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: David Alaba (Austria/Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain/Barcelona), Dani Alves (Brazil/Paris St-Germain), Jerome Boateng (Germany/Bayern Munich), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy/Juventus/AC Milan), Dani Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Diego Godin (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany/Bayern Munich), Phillipp Lahm (Germany/Bayern Munich retired), David Luiz (Brazil/Chelsea) Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid/Besiktas), Gerard Pique(Spain/Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris St-Germain), Samuel Umtiti (France/Barcelona), Antonio Valencia (Ecuador/Manchester United), Raphael Varane (France/Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara (Spain/Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain/Barcelona), Casemiro (Brazil/Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Brazil/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain/Barcelona), Isco (Spain/Real Madrid), N'Golo Kante (France/Chelsea), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Nemanja Matic (Serbia/Chelsea/Manchester United), Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Germany/Arsenal), Paul Pogba (France/Manchester United), Marco Verratti (Italy/Paris St-Germain), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay/Paris St-Germain), Paulo Dybala (Argentina/Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (France/Atletico Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Manchester United), Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Romelu Lukaku (Belgium/Everton/Manchester United), Kylian Mbappe (France/Monaco/Paris St-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil/Barcelona/Paris St-Germain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/Barcelona)
(Writing by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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